Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-02
THE COLOR LINE IN POLITICS.

The relectlOn OF y. y. MdllIleWS, tlle Coi-
ored Recorder of Deeds in the District OF
Columbia, is pointed illustration OF the
strength of the color line in politics when
there is not direct responsibility to the
public for the indulgence of unreasonable
prejudice against the black man. The office
of Recorder had been filled by Frederick
Douglass, a colored man, under the late Re-
publican administration, and President
cleveland exhibited his respect for his pub
lie pledges to recognize the rights OF cltl-
zenship regardless of race or color, by NOM
mating for the position Mr.. Matthews, an
intelligent and highly reputable colored
resident of Albany. The Senate first per.
mitted the nomination to fall Tor want OF
consideration, and when again nominated
by the President, the Senate in the star
chamber of the secret session rejected him
him by vote of II to 81.
Disguise as they may, the fact remains
patent to the country and the world that
Mr.. Matthews has been practically twice
rejected by the Senate solely because he is
not a white man, and it is undeniable that
his rejection was accomplished by the votes
of Republican Senators who have professed
special devotion to equal rights for the col
ored race. 1t is frank confession of the
utter hypocrisy of politicians in their de-
clared purpose to maintain equal civil rights
for colored citizens, and stamps upon them
the dregs of the stain of the bondman. 1t
is notice to colored voters of intelligence
that equal rights for their race are not to be
gained until they assert their own self.re,
spect by absolute independence in political
action. Then, and not till then, Will equal
rights be enjoyed by our freedmen:
The President has performed his duty
with courage equal to his fidelity to his
plighted faith to citizens of every race, and
he should stand resolutely in vindication OF
his act. The preteXt that MIR. Matthews is
not a resident of the District is obviously
insincere, as the Senate has repeatedly till-
ed the most important District offices with
citizens of distant States; but to remove all
bubbles from the great issue involved IN
the rejection of Mr.. Matthews, the Presl-
dent should promptly nominate to the SEN
ate worthy colored resident of Washing
ton. He has such man in James II. Smith,
who is to the manor born, and whose char-
acter and attainments conspicuously fit him
for the Recordership.- p.-Philddelphl0 1n''eS.
AGRICULTURAL STATIONs.-The passage
of the experimental agricultural stations
bill makes the question, '1s there an ag-
ricultural college in South Carolina"
living and important one. The stations
are to be in connection with the agricultur-
al colleges. If the agricultural annex" at
the South Carolina College can pass muster
as being within the intent of the law, and
the agricultural part of Clatlin, colored,
University is equally fortunate, the govern
ment stations will doubtless be placed near
them and thestations to be established by the
State will naturally follow, and cooperate
with them. In that case the act adopted
by the Legislature will probably be chang
ed so as to place one station in or near Col
umbia and one in the upper section. That
would give us three-One in the up coun-
try, one in or near Columbia and one
at Orangeburg, the last for colored people.
We should be glad to have it SO arranged.
The colored people do the bulk of our tarm
labor, and their instruction in the agricult-
ura science would be valuable to the State
and blessing to them.-G GreeQuiUe Ne'rs.
RECOVERED $1,000.-About two weeks
ago Mr.. Eli Lineberger, who lives near
Pleasant Ridge, CASTOR county, had $1,000
stolen from his trunk in his dwelling. He
had his suspicious of the guilty party, and
very little was said about the matter. Close
watch was kept over the colored servant
girl, who was from Kings Mountain. She
was refused permission to visit her parents.
On Tuesday Mr.. Lineberger went into his
old crib to see if he could find some corn
from among the old refused, and found his
pOcket-book with its contents safe.-DdNds,
v. g., Current.